The Path of Light by Anthony Seldon (Paperback)

In 2021, Anthony Seldon, inspired by a fallen First World War soldier who dreamed of a “Via Sacra” to commemorate the war dead and stand as a symbol of the triumph of peace, set out on a 600-mile walk tracing the historic route of the Western Front. He later recounted that journey in the widely acclaimed The Path of Peace.

But lasting peace was not to be. Just two decades after the First World War, Europe descended into an even more devastating conflict.

In The Path of Light, Seldon embarks on a new 800-mile journey, beginning once again at Kilometre Zero and ending at Auschwitz. Along the way, he uncovers the stories of women and men who courageously protected the vulnerable and stood up to evil in the face of unimaginable brutality during the Second World War.

As he reflects on these “figures of light” and the inspiring stories he encounters in the towns and villages along his route, a pattern begins to emerge―one that offers lessons for building a more peaceful and compassionate world.

Their example feels more relevant than ever, as the ominous and growing drumbeat of global belligerence forms the backdrop to Seldon’s journey between 2023 and 2025. The Path of Light is both a remarkable travel narrative and a powerful meditation on courage, humanity, and hope in troubled times.